Rust on a 2005 car

[st4]

After my hols and 8 weeks into owning the car I felt it was due a clean. This is a rare event in a car owned by me. It was jet washed, shampoo'd, waxed (twice) using turtle wax, then Colonite for the final layer.

I also hoovered in there. 8 weeks worth of me snacking and crumbs everywhere, it needed done. Plus sand from the beeches we were on.

Was a bugger getting all the soot off the pipes.

With a decent clean even a silver car can give a nice reflection.

And a nice clean cabin for me to sit in-I even hoovered the seats to get the crumbs off.

Now the bad

Quite clearly this is rust and quite disheartened on a car so young to have it. She has only done just under 55k, under 5 years old and supposedly a AUC so a good one. However its not a panel really and can easily be replaced and unlikely to spread so not overly worried.

However this worries me

This is the front wing on a 211, quite clearly something isn't right beneath. Either a bad repair from a small prang, or the ferrous stuff bubbling.

I am no expert on matters paint, perforation, etc but clearly this is not right. I'll be taking it a dealer when it next due service as its under MB warranty.

 

[LTD]

Steve

Top two defect piccies - is this a plastic piece ? Unlikely to be rust if it is ....

 

[st4]

Steve

Top two defect piccies - is this a plastic piece ? Unlikely to be rust if it is ....

Nah its metal, and if was plastic then its a right mess....I am not too bothered about that.

Its the wing that has me worried. If I would know for sure it would get no worse then I'd live with it, but I suspect not and it would be a shame, although I am not an avid detailer I still want the car looking good.

 

[MJH]

That wing does look like a bit of a rust bubble to me, coming through from underneath. Mercs aren't immune to the old tin worm, my old man had issues with his S class 4 years in and MB replaced both wings under warranty, fair play !! As soon as he got it back though he had it waxoyled underneath to be sure and touch wood 5yrs later the car is immaculate.

I'd get it into a bodyshop before it get's too bad. Nip it in the bud early enough and get the inside of the wings sealed and you will be good for a few years yet

 

[st4]

From the other forum

The wing is alli, but alli rot is worse than rust,maybe it was just a ding caused when parked up

 

[MJH]

From the other forum

The wing is alli, but alli rot is worse than rust,maybe it was just a ding caused when parked up

Interesting, I didn't know that E's had ali wings, good if they have, one less thing to worry about for a while

If it is ali then I wonder if there are any steel fastners behind, my old Landy suffers from galvanic corrosion where dissimilar metals meet this can cause corrosion which soon takes hold and holes the panel. I'd still get it checked out properly for peace of mind if you plan on keeping it for any length of time.

 

[st4]

Interesting, I didn't know that E's had ali wings, good if they have, one less thing to worry about for a while

If it is ali then I wonder if there are any steel fastners behind, my old Landy suffers from galvanic corrosion where dissimilar metals meet this can cause corrosion which soon takes hold and holes the panel. I'd still get it checked out properly for peace of mind if you plan on keeping it for any length of time.

Cheers mate, probably will have it another 2 years at least.

Will get it looked at.

To put it into perspective, its all minor, its an annoyance with an otherwise great to drive and own motor.

 

[prm]

Steve, if the first pics are roof rack strips, then surely theyr'e plastic?

 

[MJH]

PRM, one of mine has signs of being resprayed (54 plate) so think they must be metal ? They look seperate to the main roof panel so any rot is only going to be localised to the strip, I'd Imagine.

 

[Alps]

front wings are ali, back arent, check your wheel arch lips also.

 

[Gareth]

I'm not convinced they are metal, they feel and look like plastic to me. But that said, at the same time the texture on the surface doesn't make sense, for what its worth one of them on mine has a tiny amount of the same kind of thing (Dec 2005 car).

My wings look fine and my car is kept in a garage and washed/waxed regularly so I'm not worried.